Area news in brief: Sept. 24, 2010

Published: Friday, September 24, 2010 at 11:06 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, September 24, 2010 at 11:07 a.m.

HOUMA — Rumors that a gun would be brought to Houma Junior High School on Thursday proved to have “no substance,” said Terrebonne schools Superintendent Philip Martin.

An investigation by school administrators showed the rumors arose from a statement made by one student that was not intended to cause alarm or threaten anyone, Martin said.

“We did have extra security there,” Martin said. “Nobody had a gun. Nobody brought a gun.”

Martin said he is not yet sure whether the student will face any disciplinary action, though he suggested in-school counseling might be in order.

Golden Meadow Bridge closed

HOUMA — The Golden Meadow Bridge on La. 308 crossing Bayou Lafourche in Golden Meadow will be closed to traffic until further notice due to an electric span motor failure.

The closure will allow state maintenance workers to remove the motor from the bridge, make the necessary repairs and then reinstall the motor. Alternate bridges available for crossing Bayou Lafourche between La. 308 and La. 1 include the Belle Vue Swing Bridge, about 19 miles north of the Golden Meadow Bridge, and the Galliano Vertical Lift Bridge, about 7 miles north of the Golden Meadow Bridge.

Canal dredging meetings start

Area shipbuilders and fabricators have experienced trouble with silt in the canal, which makes it difficult for ships and barges to get in and out. The idea is to keep business leaders in touch with a representative from the Army Corps of Engineers, Rabalais said.

“It’d be beneficial to everybody who uses the Houma Navigation Canal to attend,” Rabalais said.

No dates have been set yet, but call 873-6428 to get involved.

State police to inspect child seats

The event, which will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 4047 W. Park Ave., Gray, is designed for child safety seat technicians to inspect vehicles to make sure child seats have been properly installed and suited for children to ride in.

Free seats for children, as well as booster seats, will also be given away for those who qualify and cannot afford to buy one.

Candidate visits next week

HOUMA — Lieutenant governor candidate and country musician Sammy Kershaw will be in Houma and Thibodaux next week. Kershaw, who’s making his second attempt for the office, will be at the Ramada Inn, 1400 W. Tunnel Blvd., Houma, at 10:30 a.m. Thursday and at the Thibodaux Lumber Rental, 800 St. Patrick St., Thibodaux, at noon.

Kershaw is on the Oct. 2 ballot, running against fellow Republican candidates Secretary of State Jay Dardenne of Baton Rouge; St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis; Melanie J. McKnight, a Baton Rouge doctor; and Roger Villere, chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party. Democratic candidates are Jim Crowley of Shreveport, Caroline Fayard of New Orleans and state Sen. Butch Gautreaux of Morgan City.

The state is holding the special election to fill the seat vacated when Mitch Landrieu was elected mayor of New Orleans.

<p class="bold allcaps">Gun rumor at school unfounded</p>
<p>HOUMA — Rumors that a gun would be brought to Houma Junior High School on Thursday proved to have “no substance,” said Terrebonne schools Superintendent Philip Martin.</p><p>An investigation by school administrators showed the rumors arose from a statement made by one student that was not intended to cause alarm or threaten anyone, Martin said.</p><p>“We did have extra security there,” Martin said. “Nobody had a gun. Nobody brought a gun.”</p><p>Martin said he is not yet sure whether the student will face any disciplinary action, though he suggested in-school counseling might be in order.</p><h3>Golden Meadow Bridge closed</h3>
<p>HOUMA — The Golden Meadow Bridge on La. 308 crossing Bayou Lafourche in Golden Meadow will be closed to traffic until further notice due to an electric span motor failure. </p><p>The closure will allow state maintenance workers to remove the motor from the bridge, make the necessary repairs and then reinstall the motor. Alternate bridges available for crossing Bayou Lafourche between La. 308 and La. 1 include the Belle Vue Swing Bridge, about 19 miles north of the Golden Meadow Bridge, and the Galliano Vertical Lift Bridge, about 7 miles north of the Golden Meadow Bridge.</p><h3>Canal dredging meetings start</h3>
<p>HOUMA — Terrebonne Port Director David Rabalais is planning quarterly meetings on developments surrounding maintenance dredging for the Houma Navigation Canal.</p><p>Area shipbuilders and fabricators have experienced trouble with silt in the canal, which makes it difficult for ships and barges to get in and out. The idea is to keep business leaders in touch with a representative from the Army Corps of Engineers, Rabalais said.</p><p>“It'd be beneficial to everybody who uses the Houma Navigation Canal to attend,” Rabalais said.</p><p>No dates have been set yet, but call 873-6428 to get involved.</p><h3>State police to inspect child seats</h3>
<p>HOUMA — State Police Troop C will be holding a child safety seat check Saturday.</p><p>The event, which will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 4047 W. Park Ave., Gray, is designed for child safety seat technicians to inspect vehicles to make sure child seats have been properly installed and suited for children to ride in.</p><p>Free seats for children, as well as booster seats, will also be given away for those who qualify and cannot afford to buy one.</p><h3>Candidate visits next week</h3>
<p>HOUMA — Lieutenant governor candidate and country musician Sammy Kershaw will be in Houma and Thibodaux next week. Kershaw, who's making his second attempt for the office, will be at the Ramada Inn, 1400 W. Tunnel Blvd., Houma, at 10:30 a.m. Thursday and at the Thibodaux Lumber Rental, 800 St. Patrick St., Thibodaux, at noon.</p><p>Kershaw is on the Oct. 2 ballot, running against fellow Republican candidates Secretary of State Jay Dardenne of Baton Rouge; St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis; Melanie J. McKnight, a Baton Rouge doctor; and Roger Villere, chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party. Democratic candidates are Jim Crowley of Shreveport, Caroline Fayard of New Orleans and state Sen. Butch Gautreaux of Morgan City. </p><p>The state is holding the special election to fill the seat vacated when Mitch Landrieu was elected mayor of New Orleans.</p>